Pope Benedict XVI makes his first visit to a majority Muslim state, Turkey, on November 28. The trip’s original aim was to build ties with Christian Orthodox leaders but the pope’s recent comments on faith, reason, and Islam—as well as Turkey’s EU accession—are likely to resonate throughout.

The only concrete measures produced by a yearlong congressional debate on immigration reform have involved border security. But a broader discussion looms on immigration and its role in U.S. economy and culture.

The pope infuriated Muslims worldwide with remarks suggesting Islam lacked a basis in "reason." On Sunday he offered a rare apology, but some Islamic groups are skeptical and protests continue in several Muslim countries.

Afghanistan has long been the world’s chief supplier of opium. Yet poppy cultivation, much of which goes to finance Taliban insurgents, may jeopardize U.S.-led efforts to secure southern parts of the country.

Under President Alvaro Uribe's "democratic security" initiative, data suggests security in Colombia has improved significantly. But the country remains the world's biggest producer of cocaine, the rebel group FARC controls many rural areas, and paramilitaries show signs of regrouping.

Evangelical Christians, a domestic political force in the United States, are increasingly making their influence felt in foreign policy. They have focused primarily on human rights, humanitarianism, and support for Israel, but more evangelicals are taking up issues like climate change.

After a burst of momentum earlier this year, immigration reform is stalled in the U.S. Congress, with both chambers sharply divided over how to treat illegal immigrants. Major action is unlikely until voters make their views known in November.

Should the New York Times have published a story detailing how the Bush administration is secretly monitoring international financial transactions? The debate reveals much about the state of political discourse in America today.

With Mexico's presidential and legislative elections less than two weeks away, CFR releases a new report that argues the United States should restore the U.S.-Mexico relationship and encourage collaboration on immigration, trade, and drug trafficking.

Shiite-Sunni relations have become frayed since the war in Iraq and the rise of Sunni insurgents like Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The outcome of the war will have widespread consequences for the future of Islam's followers.

While U.S. cultural exports, from Hollywood movies to books to fashion and soft drinks, exercise a dominant influence in the world marketplace, experts say America's "soft power" is declining. That creates opportunities for China.

President Bush proposes sending 6,000 National Guard troops to the border with Mexico as part of a major speech on immigration reform. Critics say the move is a politically motivated attempt to boost the president's sagging ratings.

Hundreds of thousands throng U.S. cities to call for legislation that permits a path to citizenship for many illegal immigrants. It remains to be seen how responsive U.S. lawmakers struggling with a reform bill will be to their demands.

2015 Annual Report

Learn more about CFR’s mission and its work over the past year in the 2015 Annual Report. The Annual Report spotlights new initiatives, high-profile events, and authoritative scholarship from CFR experts, and includes a message from CFR President Richard N. Haass.Read and download »